[StereoXGirl]

Standing for Health

Wednesday, June 25, 2008


Time you spend sitting in your chair could be affecting your health.

Watch the story


More than 47 million adults in the U.S. have metabolic syndrome.
The condition causes obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
Researchers say sitting could be to blame.

"The existing data, by numerous studies, are starting to show that the rates of heart disease and diabetes and obesity are doubled or sometimes even tripled in people who sit a lot," explains Dr. Marc Hamilton with the University of Missouri.

That's because of an enzyme called lipase.

When it's 'on', fat is absorbed into the muscles, but when you're seated, lipase virtually shuts off. That's why Dr. Hamilton suggests trying to perform more tasks standing.

Some ways to limit chair time include: taking frequent breaks at work to stand and walk around, stand up while talking on the phone or even while watching TV.

Standing also helps shrink your waistline.

The average person can burn an extra sixty calories an hour just by standing. Another benefit to standing, it improves your HDL or good cholesterol levels.

People who sat reduced their good cholesterol levels by 22%.

Source: Ivanhoe Broadcast News

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[Karren_Hutton]

WOW... I didn't know that Shaundra!!! I sit when I work but get up and walk about the building a lot.... I need to stand more so it seems!! Thanks for the tip!

[magosienne]

i used to do that a lot when working on the phone, speaking with a person, stand up a bit, and send a fax whenever i could.

[reesesilverstar]

I know, thank you!!!

I have this little timer thingie that tells me to take a break but I ignore it. I'm gonna start listening to it now.

[Ashley]

Thanks Shaundra! That was really interesting!

[daer0n]

Great info Shaundra!
Thanks for posting this

[pinksugar]

haha, I already get up and down a lot at work... bathroom... tea... show the guys how to replace toners in the photocopier/get the fax machine to work.... more tea... bathroom again... fix up the newspapers... hee hee, any opportunity!

[Adrienne]

i really need to start getting up more often! i sit for so long and only take my hour lunch. man i'm lazy. thanks for the article!

[Faith-Abigail]

When I worked in phone sales, I would take a ten-fifteen minute break every two hours or so, stand behind my desk, and do some involved flexibility stretches. It woke me up, improved my circulation, gave me a good healthy rush, and let me clear my head for a few minutes. Now, as an MUA, I have to stand for my entire eight hour shift...I wish I could still stretch at work but nobody wants to buy makeup from the cooky girl doing backbends on the floor.